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After a few days of food, family and football, Cyber Monday caps off the long Thanksgiving weekend. Grab your computer and wish list and check out these tips for making the most of your paycheck this holiday shopping season.

Start With a List

Before you begin typing anything into a search engine or browsing your favorite online retail catalogs, be sure to make a list of what you are looking for. Even the most seasoned shopper can get carried away with the surplus of deals and the frenzy of the hunt. Before too long, the online shopping cart may be overflowing with frivolous, unnecessary purchases.

Avoid the over-spending trap by knowing ahead of time what you plan to buy and where you plan to shop. Money Crashers* even suggests bookmarking your favorite retailer’s websites prior to the big day. If you organize the bookmarks in a folder, and stick to those sites, you will be less tempted to stray from your list or impulse buy.

Enhance Savings

The money-saving opportunities on Cyber Monday are already extensive, but if you sign up for an Arvest Consumer Credit Card you could earn up to $100 in additional rewards points. After you sign up, continue to use your new card on everyday purchases to earn even more rewards to redeem later.

In addition to credit card rewards, Overstock* recommends looking for coupons and promo codes ahead of time. Your favorite retailers may even send coupons via email or text message in the days leading up to Cyber Monday. Put those promo codes to use and make your purchases even more affordable.

Strategize your Time

Make sure to do plenty of research before picking a website to start scanning. Most retailers host sales at varying times and stagger discounts. If you plan ahead and decide which websites to scour first, you will not miss out on any great deals.

MoneyTips* encourages shoppers to be aware of limited time offers—especially those offered early in the morning. Being mindful of when the best deals will be offered, and spending a little extra time planning accordingly will save you a lot of time and frustration in the long run.

Double-Check Deals

Pay attention to product prices in the days leading up to Cyber Monday, and familiarize yourself with normal retail prices. This will help to distinguish between a truly great deal and a rip-off. According to Retail Wire*, a few years ago Amazon initially lowered their prices for Black Friday, but raised them again for Cyber Monday. Be a savvy shopper and train yourself to recognize true bargains. Plus, remember to use your credit card at checkout to earn rewards on almost every purchase.

Additionally, The Balance Everyday* reminds customers to factor in shipping costs when ordering online. Even though the items in your online cart may seem like a great deal, the cost for shipping could elevate the price. If you want to avoid unexpected expenses, opt to shop exclusively on websites that offer free shipping.

The views of this article are for general information use only. Please contact and speak with a subject expert or your banker when specific advice is needed.

*Link is a third-party site not operated or endorsed by Arvest Bank, an FDIC-insured institution.

Late summer and early fall are great times to save on the essential supplies for schools and offices, with deals on everything from paper to personal computers. It’s also a great time to make end-of-summer, stock-up and big-ticket purchases that don’t involve the school books. Here are some items you may want to consider purchasing within the next few months.

Big-ticket items. As companies prepare to unveil new models for the coming year, they’re also more than ready to offload the current year’s inventory. This can mean savings on big purchases such as:

Vehicles

Appliances

Mattresses

Cell phones

Lawnmowers

Tools

Bicycles

Do your homework on which dealerships, brands and stores are offering the deepest discounts and don’t be afraid to ask about add-ins or additional features that normally cost extra. Dealerships and even big-box stores are typically happy to discuss price options in order to quickly switch over inventory.

Stock up for next summer. Take the time to anticipate what you may need next summer, while being cautious about buying certain items or sizes that might not work out - such as for rapidly growing children. Here are a few ideas:

Warm-weather clothing

Summer accessories like hats and sunglasses

Swimsuits

Footwear

Summer home gear: air conditioners, dehumidifiers and fans

These summer favorites will see significant discounts to make room for fall attire and items for the holiday season.

Traveling soon? Speaking of the upcoming holiday season, it’s time to begin booking airfare for out-of-state and international trips. A good rule of thumb is to purchase your tickets two months in advance and compare prices on multiple well-known travel sites. Be sure to read the fine print for blackout dates, cancellation options and other special policies.

School and miscellaneous supplies. It’s called back-to-school shopping for a reason. Watch for deals on supplies for the kids, your home office and similar items. Dorm room sales are great for basic home purchases on small kitchen appliances, linens, storage containers and more. Consider using coupon and other cash back apps to help boost your savings even more. Similar to airfare, read the fine print to ensure you aren’t spending more to only save a little.

Be prepared. Write out ahead of time what you’re hoping to purchase and your ideal budget. It’s easy to get caught up in the deals and promotions and you may end up overspending and buying items you have no real use for.

Finally, don’t forget to take advantage, when possible, of your state’s tax-free weekend.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), many people are being targeted by scammers asking for payment in the form of gift cards. These scammers may call people claiming to be with the IRS, or tech support, or a so-called family member in need. If you’ve gotten a call like this, you know that the caller will then demand the gift card numbers and PIN.

And, poof, your money is gone.

Scammers are good at convincing people there really is an emergency, so lots of people have made the trip to local merchants to buy gift cards to send these callers. And scammers love gift cards – it’s one of their favorite ways to get your money. These cards are like giving cash – and nearly untraceable, unless you act almost immediately.

Here’s the most important thing for you to know: anyone who demands payment by gift card is always a scammer.

Gift cards are for gifts, not payments. If you’ve bought a gift card and lost money to someone who might be a scammer, tell the company who issued the card. (The contact info might be on the card, but might require some research). Tell them their card was used in a scam. If you act quickly enough, they might be able to get your money back. But – either way – it’s important that they know what happened to you. And then please tell the FTC about your loss by visiting www.ftc.gov/complaint*. Your report helps the FTC try to shut the scammers down.

More and more U.S. workers are replacing their commutes for remote and flexible work environments these days.

In fact, telecommuting has grown 115 percent in the past decade, according to data from Global Workplace Analytics.* That increase has been due, at least in part, to the millennial generation. They have opted for telecommuting positions in order to achieve a healthy work-life balance, Forbes reports.*

There are many benefits of working from home, including reduced commuter costs and increased productivity.

If you're considering working from home, here are a few office staples you will need to ensure maximum success—and productivity:

A dedicated work area. If possible, designate a separate room in your home, such as a spare bedroom or bonus room over your garage as your home office. This will ensure you have the quiet and privacy you need to work. It's also a good way to separate your workspace from your living space.

A desk. Have a desk or a flat surface where you can place your computer and any paperwork. Today, office supply and furniture stores offer a range of desk types, including stand-up desks, which provide a healthier alternative to sitting all day.

A good computer. If your company doesn't provide you with a computer, invest in a reliable one. You may want to consider purchasing a laptop, which will allow you to easily transport your work as needed.

A printer. Consider investing in an all-in-one printer that will allow you to scan, fax, copy and print and help you save space.

Internet access. For maximum productivity, be sure to get high speed Internet access.

Filing/storage space. Consider purchasing a file cabinet to store important files or purchase baskets to store files under your desk.

Good lighting. Make sure your work area gets proper light. If not, use a desk lamp.

Surge protectors. Protect your work and computer from power outages.

Document shredder. To ensure the confidentiality of your work, be sure to purchase a shredder and regularly shred important documents.

A work-from-home wardrobe. Your wardrobe has an affect on the way you work and interact with your remote colleagues. Consider clothes that make you feel confident and ready for the day.

A well set-up office can go a long way in ensuring you remain productive, and effectively leverage the advantages of working from home.

Links marked with * go to a third-party site not operated or endorsed by Arvest Bank, an FDIC-insured institution.

Arvest Bank is warning consumers about scams related to online dating

Millions of Americans use dating sites, social networking sites, and chat rooms to meet people. Many form successful relationships, but romance scammers also use these sites to meet potential victims. They create fake profiles to build online relationships, and eventually convince people to send money in the name of love.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, thousands of reports are made each year about scammers who create fake online relationships only to steal their victims’ money.

Unfortunately, an online love interest who asks for money is almost certainly a scam artist. Caution should be used when a newly formed relationship partner begins to ask for money.

The FTC has created a new infographic, developed with the American Bankers Association Foundation, which lists common signs of online dating scams and what to do if someone you meet online asks you for money. Victims may be embarrassed to talk about their experiences, but consumers can help one another by sharing this information. A simple phone call, email or text, saying “Look what I just found” and sharing this information may make a difference in someone else’s life.

Investment products and services are provided by Arvest Investments, Inc., doing business as Arvest Asset Management, member FINRA/SIPC, an SEC registered investment adviser and a subsidiary of Arvest Bank. Trust services are provided by Arvest Bank. Insurance products are made available through Arvest Insurance, Inc., which is registered as an insurance agency. Insurance products are marketed through Arvest Insurance, Inc., but are underwritten by insurance companies.
Securities and Insurance Products: Not Insured by FDIC or any Federal Government Agency, May Lose Value, Not a Deposit of or Guaranteed by a Bank or any Bank Affiliate.